Exercise Device and Method of Use

ABSTRACT

An exercise device that utilizes a compression resistant means placed between two similarly sized exercise plates that can be hand held and compressed in a variety of exercises. The invention includes methods of exercising in which the exercise device is compressed and utilized in various ways.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/008,225 filed on Jun. 5, 2014 which is incorporated herein by reference. Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/008,225 filed on Jun. 5, 2014 is hereby claimed.

REFERENCE TO “MIRCOFICHE APPENDIX”

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a multifunction portable exercise and fitness device that works with the user's muscular force and balance in a manner to compress opposing exercise plates of the device and a method of undertaking exercises and uses of the device.

2. General Background of the Invention

Portable exercise devices are varied and well known, and the present invention provides and promotes physical health, stamina, balance exercises and muscle exercises by utilizing at least two springs, or other compression resistance mechanism, attached between two opposing exercise plates which are designed to exercise the user's muscles when the user works to overcome the device's compression resistance in a balanced application of force. A wide variety of exercise equipment is available for focusing on muscle toning, cardiovascular workouts, strengthening and muscle development. The present invention involves a portable, easy to use device that can be used in a variety of ways by the user applying force in opposition to the resisting mechanical force generated by the exercise device in order to, amongst other purposes, exercise one's muscles, increase efficiency in one's exercise, and improve a user's method of exercise by working to ensure controlled and uniformed compressive force on the device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally comprised of two similar sized exercise plates, that are preferably sized to be hand held, and preferably in a brick rectangular shape, made of rubber, dense foam, plastic or wood material. In one embodiment, the top sides of the plates have a concave curved surface shaped to fit between the user's opposing thighs, or between the user's hands and/or bottom of the feet of the user. The size and shape of the exercise plates are designed in one embodiment to provide a stable surface when the device is placed on the floor or wall and held and controlled by the user. In this manner, the device can be used with one exercise plate placed against a flat firm surface whereby the user applies force to the opposing exercise plate to result in compression of the device against the flat surface such as in a push-up exercise.

The exercise plates do not have to be exclusively brick shaped or rectangular. The plates can be in various shapes and sizes such as a ball or shaped in a cylindrical or tubular structure. The invention can also have the concave cure on top side and the bottom sides of plates for a dumbbell type shape for easier gripping by hand.

The device has at least two compression resistance means, such as a compression spring or telescopic compression rod, fixed between the pair of opposing plates which are attached to the inner sides of the pair of exercise plates in a manner that the plates inner surface move toward each other in a uniform fashion when uniform force is applied to the outer sides of the plates toward the springs. The plates are parallel to each other's horizontal planes. The springs or other resistance means have equal compressive force tolerances such that when the plates are compressed together in a generally uniform manner, the two plates compress toward each other and remain parallel to each other when the user applies consistent uniform force across the entire plate's top surface.

The device is designed to receive compression force on the outer sides of the plates, so the spring or other resistance means becomes shorter as the compressive forces are applied as the two plates are brought closer together. The plates and compression resistant means are designed to have equal strength springs on the edge of the plates so that upon compression by the user, the exercise plates can move and torque multiple lateral and horizontal planes causing the plates to move outside of a parallel arrangement and the plates can wobble with respect to each other by which the user can gauge whether compressive forces are being applied equally across the surface of the plate. When inconsistent force is applied across to the top surface of the plate, the plates will not compress parallel to each other evenly and uniformly. The multiple springs design challenges the user to find and use the appropriate balance and control when applying the compressive forces to smoothly compress the device without wobble of the plates during compression. When the user squeezes the exercise plates together between the legs or by arms and hand in a push-up type exercise, the user must concentrate on applying even, consistent and level force across the surface on the exercise plates, compressing the device in a uniform manner to limit plate wobbling along the parallel planes of the plates with respect to each other. With 4 springs, the exercise plates will have more tendencies to move with wobbling non-uniform plate movements and deflections if uniform and consistent pressure is not applied to the top surface during compression. Each of the springs will compress independently but consistently in movement if the user applies equal consistent downward force across the top of the plates. The plates will compress together with the distance between the plates reducing equally between all sides of the plate as compressive forces applied.

There are many variations of methods of exercise using the invention such as foot press exercise in which the user stands with the ball of user's foot on the top surface of the plate of the invention with the heel planted or lifted and the user's other foot flat on the floor. The user presses down with his foot and leg muscles to compress the invention using the compressive force to tighten the user's abdominal muscles. The user can place the arch of the user's foot on the top surface of the plate and repeat the sequence allowing user's toes to curl forward over the front edge, and the back heel to curl over the back of the edge like the foot of a bird on a perch compressing in a uniformly easy manner. Additional foot presses exercise can be undertaken where user's heel provides the contact on the top of the plate and compressive force is exerted on the device. Other exercises include placing the invention on the floor and the user bending over compressing the device with the palm of the user's hand while standing. The user can place the device on a flat surface such as a floor and use the device in a push-up type manner exercise. The device of the invention can be used to exercise the leg and thighs by placing the device between the user's thighs and compressing the legs together. By holding the device in front of the user's chest and squeezing the device, the user can work toward the midline of the body to promote balance and alignment of the body. The device is sized and shaped to limit stress to the user's hip joints which can occur with larger and wider exercise devices by the device having a size that fits between user's thighs without the user needing to have a wide spread between the thighs while utilizing the device. The device also has the ability to be used as a foot corrector and stabilizer by use of various standing and pressing exercise methods, including one in which the user stands on one or a pair of the devices to work on standing balance. Other known exercise methods include lying on one's side on top of the device or multiple devices and using the device as a push-up aid. These methods are not the exclusive methods but the device can be used in numerous different ways as guided by the needs of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed descriptions, read in conjunction with the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross section view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross section view of the invention shown in FIG. 2 upon compression;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the invention showing two compression springs;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the invention with four springs;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 8A shows the invention and an exercise method for hand, arm and shoulder press;

FIG. 8B shows the invention and an exercise method;

FIG. 8C shows the invention and an exercise method;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain exemplary embodiments are described in showing the drawings to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture and use of the devices and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of the embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims.

In FIG. 1, the individual components of the invention are shown. The invention has two similarly shaped exercise plates (11, 12) that are generally and preferably in a brick rectangular shape and can be made of rubber, dense foam, plastic or wood materials having preferable dimensions of 8½×7½ inches in width and 3 inches in depth. In one embodiment, the top surface 11A of plate 11 has a concave cured surface in 13 and 14 with an approximate depth of the curvature in one embodiment of 1 to 2 inches from the horizontal flat surface 11A of plate 11 and 12A of 12.

The concave surface 13 and 14 are shaped in size to comfortably fit within an exercise user's inner thighs for compression exercises or to be held in the hands of the user in compression exercises or to be used by a user in foot compression exercises as shown in FIG. 8B or push-up exercises as shown in FIG. 8C.

Attached between plates 11 and 12 are compression resistant mechanisms such as springs or springs surrounding companion rods 15, 16 and 17 which are affixed to the bottom surface of plate 11 and bottom surface of plate 12. In FIG. 1, these compression resistant means are shown as 15, 16 and 17, and as shown in FIG. 1, are preferably uniformly spaced along the bottom surface 12A of plate 12 and bottom surface of plate 11 along the plates' exterior bottom side midline. Each spring compresses somewhat independently of each other such that compressive forces targeted more along the front edge of plate 11 will compress spring 17 in a greater manner than compression of spring 15 causing the plate 11 and 12 to compress in an uneven manner toward plate 12 off of the parallel horizontal planes between plates 11 and 12 centered and even compressive force applied to the center of plate 11 at 13 will cause compressive resistant mechanism 15, 16 and 17 to generally compress in a consistent even manner limiting wobble of plate 11 in relation to plate 12. The device has at least two compression means as shown in FIG. 5 as 25 and 26 but may have four compression means as shown in FIG. 6 as 30, 31, 32 and 33. With four compression means, the exercise plates 11 and 12 can compress unevenly in several different planes as the plates move toward each other if uneven force is applied along the top surfaces of 11 and 12 in a compressive manner. The springs in FIG. 6 are preferably placed between 12 at the corners of the bottom surfaces of 11 and 12 with the pair of springs 32 and 33 located an equal distance from the pair of springs 30 and 31 and the springs are generally located ¼ to ½ inch from the edges of plates 11 and 12.

The compression resistant devices are affixed to plates 11 and 12 in any reasonably known manner such as glue, bolt, spring clips attached with nails or screw or with the end of the springs themselves screwed into the inner surface of plate 11 and the inner surface of plate 12. In one embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the compression resistant means is a spring with companion rod that is within the spring and upon compression of the spring, the companion rod moves and plunges into rod receiving receptacle voids in plate 12 as shown as 19A, 19B and 19C for receiving rods 15, 16 and 17. The rod receiving receptacle voids are sized in shape to smoothly and adequately receive rods 15, 16 and 17 upon compression as the rods plunge into the voids 19A, 19B and 19C. Full compression of the plates when uniform pressure is applied at 13 and 14 compressing rods 40, 41 and 42 into voids 19A, 19B and 19C.

In FIG. 2, the compression devices' rods are plunged into holes or voids in plate 12's body sized and shaped to receive the rod of the compression device as plates 11 and 12 are compressed together narrowing the distance between the bottom surfaces of plate 11 and plate 12. Upon release of compressive force on the top surfaces of plate 11 and 12, the compression resistant mechanism expands and the plates move apart to the resting position and the rods move out of the rod receiving receptacle voids. The device requires compressive force in the range of 25 to 75 pounds to compress depending upon the number of springs or compressive resistant devices affixed to the plates and/or depending upon the strength of the springs or compression resistant devices. Preferably, the compression resistance for the device is between 25 and 50 pounds. The springs or compression resistant devices can be obtained or purchased from hardware stores and/or specialty spring retailers. The springs and/or compression resistant devices are preferably placed approximately one-fourth of an inch from the end of plates 11 and 12. When three springs are used, the middle spring 16 is preferably placed at the mid-point of the bottom surfaces of plates 11 and 12 between springs 15 and 17. The two outer springs or compression resistant devices 15 and 17 can be placed one half inch from the edges from the front and back edges of plates 11 and 12 and approximately one inch from the sides of plates 11 and 12. As shown in FIG. 5, the two outer springs or compression resistant devices 25 and 26 can be placed one half inch from the edges of the front and back edges of plates 11 and 12 and along the longer base axis centerline of the plates 11 and 12.

In FIG. 8A, the user is applying downward compressive force on plate 11 while placed on the floor while using the floor surface resistance to provide counter force against the user's compression.

In FIG. 8B, an alternative exercise method is shown in which the user is placing her foot on the top concave surface while the device is resting on the floor and applying compressive downward force to exercise the user's muscles while utilizing balance and coordination.

In FIG. 8C, the user is undertaking a method of push-up exercises using the flat hand as a compressive force against the stable opposing floor surface upon which plate 12 is resting.

It is contemplated that the exercise plates can be made of dense foam covered with fabric, plastic or other material that can suitably placed between compression means and/or engaged by the user. The strength and the positioning of the compression resistant means is fixed and can be interchangeable based on the amount of force desirable to compress the device and the method of exercise by the user. The strength of the springs can alter the stability of the exercise plates and the user might cause a certain amount of wobble in plates during the exercise if proper balance and uniform forces are not properly applied. FIG. 2 shows the exercise device having an exercise plate which preferably is sized with 2 inches of height, 6.5 inches of width and springs of 2 inches of length placed and affixed between the pair of opposing plates with two plates parallel to each other. The springs can be various lengths and compression strength, depending on the desired exercise and/or resistance desired, and a prepared embodiment has springs of 2.5 inches of length as shown in FIG. 3 which displays exercise plates (23 and 24) having a length of 6.5 inches and width of 3 inches, with 1 inch of depth. FIG. 4 shows four 4 inch springs (30, 31, 32 and 33) and FIG. 5 shows three 3 inch springs (40, 41 and 42). FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C illustrate various, but not exclusive methods of use of the device. 

1. A first plate and second plate with each first plate and second plate having a top side and bottom side and a front edge and back edge wherein at least two compression resistant means are affixed between the first plate and second plate in which the top ends of the compression resistance means are attached to the bottom side of the first plate and the bottom ends of the compression resistance means are attached to the bottom side of the second plate and the compression means are sized and affixed in manner that the plates' horizontal planes are parallel to each other.
 2. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein two compression resistant means are affixed along the longitudinal midline of the first and second plates.
 3. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the first and second plates have a concave shape on the first plate's top side and on the second plate's top side to provide for positioning of the device between a user's legs and wherein the plates are sized and shaped to be hand held.
 4. The exercise device of claim 1 in which the first and second plates are attached to the compression resistance means in manner that provides for movement of the first and second plates toward each other with the plates horizontal planes remaining parallel when compression force is applied to the plates and the compression resistance means fully compresses at application of compressive force of 25 to 50 pounds of pressure.
 5. The exercise device of claim 1 in which the compression resistant means are positioned and attached to the first plate and second plate in a manner by which the compression resistant means are evenly compressed when a user applies consistent and equal compressive force to the outer sides of the first plate and second plate.
 6. The exercise device of claim 1 in which the compression resistant means are sized, positioned and attached to the first and second plates in a manner by which each compression resistant means compresses independently of each other such that compressive forces targeted more along the front edge of the first plate will compress one of the compression resistant means in a greater manner than the other compression resistant means causing the first plate to compress in an uneven manner toward the second plate in a manner that moves the plates away from parallel horizontal planes.
 7. The exercise device of claim 1 in which the first and second plates are attached to the compression resistance means in such a manner that when compression force is applied with consistent and equal compressive force to the top sides of the first plate and second plate, the compression resistant means are evenly and equally compressed.
 8. The exercise device of claim 1 in which the compression resistant means are at least two springs and each spring encircles a companion rod and the second plate has at least two rod receiving receptacle voids with the voids' opening on the bottom side the second plate and the rod receiving receptacle voids are sized and shape to smoothly receive the companion rod as the first plate and second plate move toward each upon compression causing the rod to move into the rod receiving receptacle void.
 9. The exercise device of claim 1 in which the plates have four corners and one compression resistant means is located at each of the four corners of the plates in manner that the first plate and second plate can compress in an uneven manner in several different planes as the plates move toward each other if as force is applied along the top surfaces the plates.
 10. A method of using the apparatus of claim 1 to perform exercises by applying compressive force to the top side of the first plate and to the top side of the second plate.
 11. A method of using the apparatus of claim 1 to perform push up exercises with the second plate resting against the stable surface. 